F&M Falls to George Mason

Dec 06, 2014

LANCASTER, Pa. – Franklin & Marshall was unable to climb out of an early hole, falling to George Mason by a 28-10 score on Saturday evening at the Masyer Center in NCAA wrestling action. The defeat dropped the Diplomats to 1-2 on the season, while the Patriots improved to 4-2.

George Mason took control in the early going, earning back-to-back decisions to open up the match with a 6-0 advantage heading into 141. The Patriots followed with a dominant 13-4 major decision, before Sharron Townsend battled at 149, but was unable to overcome a pair of first-period takedowns en route to an 8-5 loss.

The visitor lead was extended to 19-0 with two George Mason decisions at 157 and 165, before Gordon Bolig got F&M's first points on the board in dramatic fashion. Knotted up at 1-1 after three periods of action, the bout appeared destined for a second overtime before Bolig secured a pin with just one second remaining in the fourth to hand six points to the Diplomats.

Anthony Mancini kept the momentum on F&M's side at 184, registering an early takedown and dominating throughout his contest. The Diplomats' freshman grappler picked up three near fall points on three separate occasions, cruising to a 12-0 major decision and pulling F&M within nine at 19-10.

George Mason's Matt Meadows pulled ahead early at 197 with a takedown and two near fall points against the Diplomats' Charles Kerkesner, and took the bout by a 12-6 score to give the Patriots a decisive 23-10 lead in the match.

F&M returns to the mat tomorrow when the Diplomats will send wrestlers to compete at the Nittany Lion Open in State College.